January 15, 2014

Texas announces Charlie Strong's staff

Charlie Strong has completed the process of putting his staff together, retaining only one member of last year's Longhorns staff and bringing in nine new assistants.

Former Texas defensive back Vance Bedford was named defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Bedford was in charge of a Louisville defense that led the country in total defense, allowing only 251.5 yards per game.

He was one of four assistants Strong brought with him from Louisville, along with quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson, linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary and strength and conditioning coach Pat Moorer.

Jean-Mary will also serve as Texas' recruiting coordinator while Watson was also listed as an assistant head coach for offense. Joe Wickline, who spent the last nine years as the offensive line coach at Oklahoma State, assumes the same role with the Longhorns and will also serve as offensive coordinator.

Mississippi State offensive coordinator Les Koenning was named Texas' wide receivers coach. Koenning joins Bedford as a former Longhorns football player, playing wide receiver at Texas from 1977-80.

Tight ends coach Bruce Chambers was the lone coach Strong kept at Texas. He will be entering his 17th season as a Longhorns assistant.

Rounding out Strong's staff are running backs coach Tommie Robinson, defensive backs coach Chris Vaughn and defensive line coach Chris Rumph, who previously held those same positions at USC, Memphis and Alabama, respectively. Rumph will also serve as an assistant head coach for defense while Vaughn will also be the special teams coordinator.